Effect of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and probiotic (Enterococcus faecium) supplementation on the growth performance, digestibility and blood profiles in weanling pigs

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of MCFA and probiotic (Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, faecal score, excreta microbiota, and excreta noxious gas emission in weanling pigs. A total of 140 weanling pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] were allotted to four treatments groups of seven replicates/treatment and five pigs/replicate. The four experimental diets included: CON diet (basal diet); T1 (CON + MCFA 0.2%); T2 (CON + probiotic 0.01%) and T3 (CON + MCFA 0.2% + probiotic 0.01%). Growth performance, average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), gain-to-feed ratio (G : F), Nutrient digestibility: dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N), energy were determined along with blood profiles: glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, triglyceride, Excreta bacteria: Lactobacillus, E. coli, Excreta gas emission: NH3, H2S, total mercaptans, acetic acid and faecal scores. Overall, average daily gain (ADG) and G : F in T2 and T3 treatment groups was higher than in T1 and controls. In blood profiles, glucose levels were found to be increased in week two and six in the treatment groups compared to controls. In addition, the nutrient digestibility of DM, N and energy were found to be increased significantly in T2 and T3 when compared to T1 and controls. There was no significant difference observed between the groups for faecal score, microflora and noxious gas emission. In conclusion, dietary MCFA and probiotic supplementation in weanling pigs are efficacious alternatives to antibiotics, and can improve health status and performance.